Active Christchurch Walks 10 years on

8 September 2008

The Active Christchurch Walks programme is celebrating their tenth year of free public guided walks.

Active Christchurch Walks Group Leader and Walktologist, Graeme Stanley, has been running one hour guided walks for 10 years of Sundays on October 5 and nine years of half hour walk Thursdays on September 11.

This Thursday, to celebrate its ninth anniversary in conjunction with Conservation Week, Active Christchurch Walks will host a special guided tour through Lady Diana Isaac’s conservation gem - Peacock Springs.

Mr Stanley will take guests on an extended 45 minute walk through the unique wildlife habitat and provide key information on what is known as one of the world’s best examples of quarry restoration.

Mr Stanley says the Active Christchurch Walks programme has to date taken 58,465  people on their walks.

“Active Walks has had countless success stories and many people have walked with me since its beginning.

“We’ve only ever had to cancel seven walks out of 1115 over the past near 10 years, not a bad average.”

Active Christchurch Walks cover parks and reserves throughout Christchurch and surrounding areas and delivers interesting heritage facts along the way.

Walks vary weekly with tour programmes set out four months in advance so walkers can plan which walks they would like to participate in.

An initiative of the Christchurch City Council Recreation and Sports Unit, Active Christchurch Walks was launched by former Mayor Vicki Buck on 5 October 1998 at North Hagley Park.

September 7-14 is Conservation Week, a nationwide initiative about getting active in your region and learning about the natural landscapes, native species, people and historical places that make your region unique.

“I encourage anyone who hasn’t yet been on one of our walks to come along this Thursday especially and experience the unique conservation resources we have in our backyard.

“We even have an Active social group with the Café programme for after our Thursday morning walks which we’re always happy for new people to join, ‘The Serendipity Sippers Thursday Coffee Plus Group’.”  

Visit Christchurch City Council for more information and full walk programme www.ccc.govt.nz/recreation/walking.

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